Liv Label Free | Neurodivergent Eating Disorder Recovery
The podcast explores the connection between neurodivergence and eating disorders, offering insights and strategies for recovery. Host Livia Sara, who is autistic and has personal experience with eating disorders, shares meaningful conversations and lived experiences. The show aims to guide neurodivergent individuals and their loved ones toward a life of freedom. Additional resources are available on her website and Instagram.
Episodes
OCD, Autism, and Anorexia as Interconnected Manifestations w/ Maddie @love.madelaine_
Livia Sara is joined by Maddie, a psychology student, content creator, and face behind the Instagram account @love.madelaine_ where she shares her journey through OCD and eating disorder recovery, autism discovery, and embracing her authentic identity.
In this episode, we explore the overlap between autism, OCD, orthorexia, anorexia, and why so many neurodivergent people struggle to find
Grieving Your Autism Discovery (with Julia)
Today I’m joined by Julia, a former 1-1 coaching client turned dear friend & now the person who helps me behind the scenes at Liv Label Free! What started as a coaching relationship has grown into a friendship, a collaboration, and countless deep conversations about neurodivergence, eating adaptations, spirituality, and what it actually means to create a life that feels aligned.
In th
The Neurodivergent Connection to Binge Eating, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and Body Image w/ Kory Andreas
Last year, I received an email from a lovely individual inquiring about coaching opportunities. I asked if she could briefly share her story and some of her goals for coaching. In true autistic style, she replied with what she described as “a novel to explain herself, lol.” I loved reading this “novel” because, as with most emails I receive, I resonated with so much of her lived experienc
I never actually recovered...
For years, I said “I’m recovered” from my eating disorder – but I realize that’s not the full truth. In this episode, I open up about my discovery journey and share how I’m living my unique version of freedom as an autistic person with a history of anorexia.
🌈 Autistically ED-Free Academy: https://www.livlabelfree.com/group📚 Read my books!
It’s NOT “the eating disorder talking” with Ash
When I was in eating disorder treatment, I was told “it’s the eating disorder talking” more times than I can remember.
👉 I was told “It’s your eating disorder talking” when I asked to see the menu before we went on a restaurant outing.
👉 I was told “It’s your eating disorder talking” when I said that gaining weight made me want to crawl out of my skin.
👉 I was asked “Is your eating disord
Unhinged Neurodivergent Chat About Existential Exhaustion, Financial Stress, and Trusting the Universe w/ Emilia
The world is moving really fast. Especially for us AudDHD folks who are already trying to keep up with the demands of our “human body costume” – let alone the demands of society – merely existing can feel impossible. In this unfiltered catch-up episode with Emilia, my former 1-1 coaching client turned best friend, we share how travel wrecks our nervous systems even when it's worth it, the
Group Q&A: Going Home After Hospital, Does the Food Noise Ever Go Away? and Why to STOP Eating Mindfully in Autistic ED Recovery
In today’s group podcast, participants share their perspectives and experiences in response to the following questions:
Does the food noise ever go away? How to deal with mental hunger and the constant desire to restrict in ED recovery?
How to support your loved one as they transition back home after being inpatient?
Is it okay to NOT eat mindfully in autistic eating disorder recovery? W
The Lost Generation of Autistic Parents & Embarking on Your Own Discovery Journey as a Caregiver with Felicity
Many parents come to me seeking support for their autistic child struggling with an eating disorder only to discover they’re part of the lost generation of autistic parents! In today’s episode, I chat with Felicity, a mum of two who’s passionate about all things art, movement, and creativity. Felicity shares how she began questioning her own neurodivergence when she joined my Autistically
Supporting Your Autistic Child in Anorexia Recovery with Amy
Four years ago, Amy started 1-1 coaching with me, desperate to support her autistic daughter who was struggling with anorexia. FBT had failed the family and Amy just felt so LOST! But through learning neurodiversity-affirming support strategies, Amy’s daughter has now taken significant steps on her discovery journey. In this episode, Amy shares priceless insights to support your autistic
From Treatment Trauma to Full Recovery with 1-1 Coaching Client Julia
Today I’m joined by Julia, my former 1-1 coaching client and now my right-hand person behind the scenes at Liv Label Free! In this episode, Julia shares her story for the first time: from feeling misunderstood and struggling within the healthcare system to finding clarity, self-understanding, and a completely different way of relating to herself. Together, we talk about eating disorder tr
How I Recovered from Anorexia By Embracing My Autism
Most eating disorder professionals overlook autism. Yet even if they do recognize it, there’s a gap in understanding the nuances of just how autistic traits intertwine with eating disorder behaviors. For this reason, many autistic people are invalidated, traumatized, and stamped with countless labels including “hopeless,” “manipulative,” and “too complex” while trying
Practical Strategies to Respect PDA in Autistic Eating Disorder Recovery
In this episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia discusses demand avoidance in autism and how it can influence eating behaviors and eating disorder recovery. She explains what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is, why basic needs like eating can sometimes feel like overwhelming demands, and how this can lead to avoidance around food and eating disorder treatment.
Livia also explores
The Harm of FBT for Autistic People with Anorexia
Family-Based Therapy (FBT) is often hailed as the “evidence based” and “gold standard” treatment approach for anorexia patients. However, FBT can be severely traumatic for autistic individuals. In today’s episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia explores the harm of FBT, including theft of autonomy (especially harmful for individuals with PDA!) and the danger of prioritizing weig
Rebuilding Trust When ED Treatment Fails (Group Podcast)
Season 3 of the Autistically ED-Free Academy is OPEN! 🎉 In this special group podcast, previous Academy participants share their experiences, including:
Why traditional eating disorder treatments can be traumatizing
How respecting autistic traits transformed parent-child relationships and saved lives
What it looks like to unmask and discover who you are beyond the eatin
“Recovery Feels Like Too Much Pressure!” (PDA in Neurodivergent Eating Disorders with Allyson Inez Ford)
This is one of my favorite conversations on PDA to date! Livia Sara and Allyson Inez Ford sit down to discuss the connection between demand avoidance and eating disorders in neurodivergent folks, highlighting the importance of autonomy and purpose on the discovery journey.
Key Topics Discussed:
Why traditional eating disorder treatment fails people with PDA
The need for meani
Opening up about my OCD (with my friend Sharon)
In this vulnerable episode, Liv opens up about how her OCD has resurfaced since moving back home. Liv and Sharon also discuss how traditional treatments for OCD and eating disorders fail neurodivergent people when the approach isn’t person-centered.
📚 Read my books! https://livlabelfreebooks.com💌 Sign up for my newsletter! https://livlabelfree.com/join👯 Liv Label Free Membership
“I wish this body didn’t have needs!” (Autism, Eating Disorders, and Demand Avoidance)
How much of your existence is shrouded in resistance?
Something a lot of us gifted autistics feel resistance towards is the needs of the human body.
Food, water, sleep, bathroom…
Every bodily demand feels like an interruption, a violation of autonomy. As Kathi shared in today’s group podcast, her father literally says “I want to decide when I want to eat. I don't
I want to recover but I don't want to gain weight (A Teddie Story)
Teddie is finally on the podcast! As promised in last week’s episode, I’m reading the short story I wrote about wanting to recover but not gain weight.
💌 Sign up for my newsletter! https://livlabelfree.com/join👯 Liv Label Free Membership: https://livlabelfree.com/membership📚 Read my books! https://livlabelfreebooks.com🧸Read the blog post of this episode: https://www.livlabelfree
I’m finally unmasking
This might be the most vulnerable episode I’ve EVER recorded! Just me, a camera, and whatever came out. Watch for a behind-the-scenes peek of my two massive writing projects, why I’m done polishing the podcast, and what “unmasking around yourself” really means. Also: Teddie the autistic alien is coming to the podcast!! 👽🔥🌈
💌 Sign up for my newsletter! https://livlabelfree.com/join
👯 Liv L
Your Eating Disorder is a Distraction (Our First Group Podcast!)
You know what’s been missing from the podcast space? A GROUP podcast where neurodivergent aliens with ED lived experience come together to share their struggles & insights. Because let’s be real, there’s nothing more validating than hearing from others that have the EXACT same thoughts as you…
Which is why I’m beyond excited to share that myself and past Autistically ED-Free Academy p
EVERYTHING is going to change in 2026
Happy 2026 my friends! It’s been a while since I recorded a solo episode, but it feels ✨aligned✨ again, so here we are! In today’s podcast, I share 5 things I’ve left behind in 2025 so that I can step more fully into my BEING.
💌 Sign up for my newsletter! https://livlabelfree.com/join👯 Liv Label Free Membership: https://www.livlabelfree.com/membership📚 Read my books! https://liv
Has Your Eating Disorder Expired? | Liv & Kathi Coalescence!
In this first episode of the Liv and Kathi coalescence, we let the conversation flow where our souls guide us! We chat about breaking free from past identities, following your intuition, how reality is a collective dream, and so much more. Ready to discover your authentic self with others who genuinely understand the neurodivergent experience of eating adaptations? Join us in 51 Days to F
A Midnight Metaphor, Quasi Recovery, and 51 Days to Freedom!
Livia shares a powerful metaphor to help you take the first step to breaking free from quasi recovery. If you’re ready to take the next step, join us in 51 Days to Freedom! https://livlabelfree.com/freedom
Sign up for Liv Label Free emails! https://livlabelfree.com/join
How I Created A New Identity After Anorexia
Livia Sara chats with Rachael Herron about creativity, art, and how words will always fail. If you or your loved one are terrified of letting go of the eating disorder identity, this conversation is going to inspire and empower you to become the person you were born to be!
Sign up for Liv Label Free emails: www.livlabelfree.com/join
Turning the Eating Disorder MESS into Your Discovery MESSage
Livia chats with Anna, who discovered me through my book Rainbow Girl, participated in the Autistically ED-Free Academy, and is on her own journey to discovering what freedom looks like after an eating disorder.
This episode is the start of a new podcast era in which I leave behind excessive preparation and scripted episodes. Instead, I’m fully leaning into what my soul has been
I can’t do this anymore
Go on a walk with me as I record another spontaneous voice memo! In this episode, I share my evolving relationship with the podcast format, explaining how I’m craving more live, soul-to-soul connections rather than speaking into the void.
I discuss feeling claustrophobic as I try to externally match my internal vastness through words, and how authentic connections through 1-1 Coaching, th
Autism, ADHD, and Giftedness: The Inner Battle (Dopamine Diaries Part 2)
In today's episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my everyday experience being AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD). I share how trapped I feel in this body, how overwhelmed I am by my own mind, and how masking & giftedness play a role in it all.
Discovery resources for you:🎙️ Free audiotraining: https://www.livlabelfree.com/free-audiotraining✨ Existential Autistic Membership: https://www
Why is nobody talking about ADHD and Anorexia? (Dopamine Diaries Part 1)
In this first installment of Dopamine Diaries, Livia Sara unravels the overlooked connection between autism, ADHD, and anorexia. You’ll learn how dopamine differences create a neurodivergent vulnerability for engaging in anorexia behaviors, including restriction, compulsive exercise, ADHD hyperfocus, and constantly thinking about food!
Further resources:📚 Neurodiversity-Affirmin
Autism and Eating Disorders Meditation | Guided Practice to Break Free from Binge Eating, Anorexia, Bulimia, and Other Limiting Labels
Welcome to this Liv Label Free meditation! I’m Livia Sara, an autistic eating disorder recovery coach that’s here to help you turn your MESS into your MESSage.
Today, I’m delighted to guide you through this meditation designed for autistic people struggling with eating disorders. It’s a connection that’s hugely misunderstood, which is beyond unfortunate because of how common autism and ea
Creating a Life Worth Suffering For (with Rosie)
Do you ever have a conversation with someone where you talk about SO much that you have no idea what you talked about afterwards? Well that’s literally the experience I had with Rosie in today’s podcast episode!
Rosie contacted me around this time last year after she had completed my free audiotraining “3 Steps to Recovery From an Eating Disorder as an Autistic Person.” She’d already gott
Is it harder for an autistic person to recover from an eating disorder?
In this episode, Livia Sara unpacks the following 3 myths about autism and eating disorders:
It’s harder for an autistic person to recover from an eating disorder
You can’t diagnose someone with autism if they have an active eating disorder
Autistic people can’t eat intuitively
You’ll also hear a preview of two chapters from Livia’s newest book How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery, which yo
Headaches, Tinnitus, and Dizziness in Anorexia Recovery
Livia answers a listener question about how to get rid of headaches, tinnitus, and dizziness in anorexia recovery.
Want more? Find my books, courses, and coaching programs at livlabelfree.com
Episode transcript:
Hello my friends, well today is another Q&A episode and today’s question comes from jellyfish1093 on YouTube and they asked if I could do an episode on physical and mental sym
Fear of Existential Emptiness
Livia and Mike chat about the fear of not knowing who you are, redefining success, and how to create a meaningful life in the void of infinite possibilities.
✨ Existential Autistic Membership: https://www.livlabelfree.com/membership💗 1-1 Coaching: https://www.livlabelfree.com/coaching🎙️ Free Audiotraining: https://www.livlabelfree.com/free-audiotraining
Eating Disorder = Solution to Your Existential Crisis?
Have you always asked why? Have you always been so relentlessly curious that it overwhelms your own mind? Have you always asked existential questions only to become mentally paralyzed by the fact that they will never have answers?
I feel you. In fact, I was recently explaining to my psychiatrist that my brain feels like a room filled with bouncing balls. You know what he replied? “Wo
Existential Nausea and Confrontation with Consciousness (go on a walk with me!)
In this spontaneous “walk with me” voicememo, I share my experience with existential nausea and how painful it feels to be confronted with consciousness.
Let’s connect!🌐 WEBSITE: https://livlabelfree.com/📚 BOOKS: https://livlabelfreebooks.com🍩 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/livlabelfree/
Does an eating disorder ever go away?
I know you’re tired – tired of going back and forth between the ED and “trying recovery again.”
Tired of believing it’s possible for you to achieve freedom, only to be submerged back into belief that you’ll just have to “manage” an eating disorder forever.
Tired of having your entire life REVOLVE around rigid eating schedules and strict exercise routines.
There’s no sugarcoating it:
The REAL Reasons Autistic People Fear Weight Gain
🎉 The Autistically ED-Free Academy is OPEN! Save your seat: https://www.livlabelfree.com/group
For most neurodivergent people, the fear of weight gain isn’t about body image or the infamous “wanting to be thin so I can look like the models on the magazines!”
In today’s episode, Livia Sara chats with Harriet Parsons and Jenny Langley about the real reasons autistic people fear weight
Feeling Behind in Life After an Eating Disorder
🎉 The Autistically ED-Free Academy is OPEN! Secure your spot: https://www.livlabelfree.com/group
Do you feel behind in life due to your eating disorder? That’s how I felt for many years. While my peers were progressing through school, getting jobs, and forming relationships, my whole life was on pause. In today’s episode, I explain why ED recovery actually gives you a jumpstart
“I Feel Betrayed by My Body!” Autism, Eating Disorders, and LGBTQ+ Identity w/ Nico
💫 Join the Existential Autistic Membership: https://www.livlabelfree.com/membership🌈 Autistically ED-Free Academy: https://www.livlabelfree.com/group
The connection between neurodivergence, eating disorders, and LGTBQ+ is undeniable – yet it isn’t talked about enough.
As someone who’s incredibly passionate about inviting curiosity and compassion to underserved topics, I’m very e
How do I handle being in a body? (Kenyan is back!)
📚 How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfreebooks.com🌈 Existential Autistic Membership: https://www.livlabelfree.com/membership
I’m simplifying the shownotes! 😊 In today’s episode, Kenyan is back to chat with me about how we handle being in bodies – specifically female bodies.
I’m a Girl, Not a Woman! A Neurodivergent Conversation About Body, Burnout, and Everything in Between (w/ Kenyan)
🌈 JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP! https://www.livlabelfree.com/membership📚 AUTISM & ED RECOVERY BOOKS: https://livlabelfreebooks.com✨ 1-1 COACHING W/ LIVIA: https://www.livlabelfree.com/1-on-1-coaching
Are you afraid of growing up and being healthy in a female body? Livia and Kenyan both resonate with feeling like a girl but CRINGE when they’re called a “woman.” This episode explo
The terrifying truth about quasi recovery
How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/
Franz Kafka once wrote “I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound or stab us. If the book we’re reading doesn’t wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we readin
Feel like you're doing recovery WRONG?
How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/
Are you constantly second-guessing yourself in eating disorder recovery? With the amount of contradictory messaging in our society – from both diet
Is ED recovery just an illusion?
How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/
If you’re overwhelmed by all the contradictory messages in the ED recovery space, this episode is for you. I explain why you feel stuck in the “recovery trap”
Stuck in Quasi Recovery? Practical Tools to Finally Break Free
How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery: https://livlabelfree.com/quasirecoverybookThe Discovery Workbook: https://livlabelfree.com/discoveryworkbookBundle & save on all my books: https://livlabelfreebooks.com/
Are you stuck in quasi recovery? I know how it feels to be trapped in that frustrating middle ground between your eating disorder and true freedom.
You’re “recovered” to an exten
How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery w/ Victoria Kleinsman
Quasi recovery is worse than having an eating disorder. In today's episode, Livia and Victoria chat about their experiences with quasi recovery, why the map is a trap, and how to begin trusting your inner wisdom. If you enjoy this episode and want to dive deeper into the topics discussed, you will LOVE Livia's new book How to Get Out of Quasi Recovery!
👉 Grab your copy: https://
It's your f*cking life! w/ Wouter Kleinsman
Do you feel like you’re never good enough? Livia Sara and Wouter Kleinsman both know what it’s like to chase illusory fulfillment through external identities. In this confrontational conversation, Livia and Wouter discuss how labels imprison us, why conformity is a trap, and how the story you tell yourself is the story that narrates your life.
Episode highlights:
Why breaking free
Existential Claustrophobia, When Giftedness Feels Like Pressure, and the Power of Authentic Connection
Have you ever felt that your "gifts" were more of a burden than a blessing? In this Autistically ED-Free Membership call recording, Livia and the community explore the concept of "existential claustrophobia" – that suffocating feeling of being confined within a finite physical form while having an infinitely expansive inner being. Members share their raw experiences of how giftedness
Are Eating Disorders A Form of Autistic Masking?
What if ED behaviors in autistic people were not problems to be fixed, but rather, powerful adaptations to feel safe? More specifically, what if eating disorders themselves are a form of autistic masking? In this episode, Livia Sara explains how eating disorders can manifest through three distinct types of masks, why neurodiversity-affirming approaches form the foundation of freedom, and
Existentialism, OCD, “Atypical” Anorexia, and Being an Autistic Alien w/ Dr. Marianne Miller
Do you or a loved one ever feel like you were born on the wrong planet? Livia Sara and Dr. Marianne Miller both know what it’s like to experience life as a neurodivergent alien. The existential loneliness that comes with this sense of alienation can be so unbearable that the eating disorder becomes an escape – a way to create a sense of meaning and purpose when you feel lost.
In today’s e
“Unnecessary calories”
What if unnecessary calories were one of the most necessary aspects of living a meaningful life? In today’s episode, Livia Sara explores the concept of “unnecessary calories” through a client’s fear of butter, revealing how this restrictive thinking is actually a manifestation of deeper existential fears. You’ll learn:
The hidden meaning behind labeling foods as having “unnecessary calor
"That's your eating disorder talking"
What if we viewed “eating disorder behaviors” as adaptive responses to an unsafe world? In this special episode, Livia Sara is interviewed by Harriet Parsons and Jenny Langley from the BodyWhys Podcast about her view of reframing eating disorders as adaptations, and how this perspective can support individuals moving from quasi recovery to a life of freedom and purpose.
Highlights of the
Calorie Counting, Walking, and Binge Eating: Is it Autism or the Eating Disorder?
Traditional eating disorder recovery advice tends to be harmful for autistic people. Many regulation techniques are often labeled as behaviors to be eliminated, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness. But there is another way!
In today’s episode, Livia speaks to Rob about his personal journey with binge eating disorder and how discovering his autism has helped him develop more effecti
Spontaneous Life Update! New Books, New Beginnings, & Fear of Relapse
It’s time for another spontaneous life update! In this unscripted episode, I share some major changes and exciting announcements – including new books, moving overseas, the launch of the Autistically ED-Free Membership, reflections on the fear of relapse, and how I’m dealing with my own fear of failure.
🌈 Join the Autistically ED-Free Membership💗 Join the Liv Label Free weekly newsle
But I Don't Know How Much To Eat!
How many calories should you eat in anorexia recovery? I used to obsessively watch “What I Eat in a Day” videos and scroll Reddit threads in a desperate attempt to answer this question. But the more I searched, the more lost and confused I felt. If you resonate with the fear of “not knowing how much to eat,” this episode will transform how you approach food freedom.
You’ll learn:
Why ask
![[PART 2] Autism and Anorexia Athletica: How to Use Your Autistic Traits to Heal Your Relationship with Exercise](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/podcasts/thumbnails/2147505592/episodes/50cd781-ac46-6f70-e141-0754ca32df10_Exercise_2.png)
[PART 2] Autism and Anorexia Athletica: How to Use Your Autistic Traits to Heal Your Relationship with Exercise
It’s no secret that people with anorexia often engage in excessive amounts of exercise. When you combine that hallmark restlessness with neurodivergent traits like anxiety, perseverance, masking, and a constant state of fight-or-flight mode, you have the perfect storm for exercise addiction. But what if these same traits could become powerful tools in ED recovery? In the second installmen
![[PART 1] Autism and Anorexia Athletica: Understanding Exercise Addiction in Autistic People with Eating Disorders](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/podcasts/thumbnails/2147505592/episodes/11f54-43b-74e7-2a6-fb873a7aa44d_Exercise_1.png)
[PART 1] Autism and Anorexia Athletica: Understanding Exercise Addiction in Autistic People with Eating Disorders
When you think of exercise addiction and eating disorders, you might picture someone trying to burn calories or using movement as punishment. But for neurodivergent individuals, the story often looks different. In today’s episode, host Livia Sara shares her journey with exercise addiction through an autistic lens, challenging common misconceptions and offering a fresh perspective on the c
I Feel Like a Failure
Do you feel like you're never good enough? In this unscripted, spontaneous episode, I dive deep into my current struggle with perfectionism in writing and the surprising parallels to eating disorder recovery. Recorded with no planning or outline, this raw exploration reveals how the fear of failure follows us beyond recovery into creative pursuits.
What you'll hear:
Why I'm experiencing
What If I Can't Handle Being Healthy?
"What if I can't handle being healthy?"
This question haunted me for years, echoing through my thoughts each time I contemplated recovery. My eating disorder was never about the food, the weight, or even the physical aspects of health – it was about what being "well" would mean. Because being healthy meant being responsible.
In this episode, we explore how eating disorders can function as
This Too Shall Pass: Crisis Support for Autism & Eating Disorders
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in crisis? You're not alone. As someone who understands the unique challenges at the intersection of autism and eating disorders, I've created this guided audio to be your hand to hold in moments of darkness and despair.
What This Recording Offers:
Immediate anxiety and panic relief through guided breathing
Grounding techniques for aut
Exercise Addiction, Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, and The Power of Intention w/ Ashleigh Marie Hubbard
When does dedication to fitness become a dangerous obsession? Is it healthy to lose weight after an eating disorder? In today’s episode of the Liv Label Free Podcast, Livia Sara chats with Ashleigh Marie Hubbard, a certified nutrition and health coach who’s passionate about helping people build sustainable habits and improve their relationship with food, exercise, and their bodies. We del
I Feel Trapped in a Human Body
Last year, I went through a second puberty. It wasn’t something I planned to share. But as I tossed and turned one night, I knew I had to let the words flow out of me. So I grabbed my phone, opened the VoiceMemos app, and started talking about my recent body changes.
The recording captured several neurodivergent experiences of eating disorders, including:
Fear of growing up and being hea
![[PART 3] Making Peace with Weight Gain in Eating Disorder Recovery](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/podcasts/thumbnails/2147505592/episodes/3d6082-233d-8d2b-e856-8828b85e1260_3.png)
[PART 3] Making Peace with Weight Gain in Eating Disorder Recovery
How can autistic people make peace with weight gain in eating disorder recovery? After exploring the underlying reasons for the fear of weight gain in Part 1 and Part 2 of this weight gain series, Part 3 is all about how to accept a healthy body. Livia challenges the conventional “love your body” narrative and instead, offers an ecological approach that particularly resonates with the aut
![[PART 2] Fear of Weight Gain in Autism and Anorexia](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/podcasts/thumbnails/2147505592/episodes/7f2503-715-c6d0-a3e6-c31050bbc2c_2.png)
[PART 2] Fear of Weight Gain in Autism and Anorexia
For many autistic people with anorexia, the fear of weight gain has nothing to do with a desire to be thin. In Part 2 of this Fear of Weight Gain Series, Livia unpacks eight reasons why autistic people may fear weight gain – that are unrelated to body image concerns.
You'll learn:
How sensory sensitivities can make weight gain feel like being trapped in an ill-fitting costume
Why the num
![[PART 1] Fear of Weight Gain in Autism and Anorexia](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/podcasts/thumbnails/2147505592/episodes/86ca-c75-5d55-280-3a0fc4ae8414_Carousels_2_1_.png)
[PART 1] Fear of Weight Gain in Autism and Anorexia
Why do autistic people fear weight gain? Contrary to popular belief, autistic folks with anorexia may not deal with body image issues or have a fear of fatness. In Part 1 of this 3-part Fear of Weight Gain Series, Livia explains how eating disorders can serve as survival mechanisms in an overwhelming world. She also shares her personal story of anorexia without body dysmorphia, highlighti
But Restriction Helps Me Focus!
Many people assume that eating more and gaining weight in anorexia recovery will automatically lead to improved focus, mood, and energy. But for many, the reality feels different. In this episode, Livia dives into the biological and psychological reasons why restriction can create a sense of sharpness and focus – and why this state, while enticing, comes at a significant cost.
Through a p
Creating Flexible Routines in Autistic ED Recovery
Routines play an important role in the lives of autistic individuals, offering structure and safety – but they can also lead to challenges, especially when paired with eating disorders. In this episode, Livia and Mike delve into how routines shape autistic experiences, how they intersect with food and movement behaviors, and why flexibility is crucial for recovery. Together, they exp
The Recovery Trap: How “All In” Keeps You Stuck
The term "all in recovery" has gained traction in eating disorder spaces, but does it really lead to true freedom? In this episode, Livia Sara unpacks the origins, misconceptions, and limitations of the all in approach. Through the lens of her own recovery journey, she explores how labels like "all in" or "in recovery" can keep us stuck in cycles of black-and-white thinking and perpetuate
The Truth About Black-and-White Thinking in Autism and Eating Disorders
Black-and-white thinking, also known as all-or-nothing or polarized thinking, is often labeled as a barrier to recovery for autistic individuals with eating disorders. But what if this mindset isn't a flaw to fix, but an adaptive response designed to protect and conserve energy in an overwhelming world? In this episode, you’ll learn:
The role of black-and-white thinking in neurodivergent
Q&A: Overcoming Analysis Paralysis and Building Sustainable Routines
In this follow-up Q&A episode, Livia and Mike tackle two insightful listener questions about navigating daily challenges as neurodivergent entrepreneurs. With practical tips and lived experience, they unpack how to overcome analysis paralysis, create flexible routines, and manage the pressure of perfection.
You’ll learn:
How to balance structure with flexibility in daily life
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Demand Avoidance in Autism and Eating Disorder Recovery
Demand avoidance can be one of the most misunderstood aspects of autism, especially when it intersects with eating disorders. What may seem like defiance or resistance is often an attempt to preserve autonomy and regain a sense of safety. In this episode, I’ll be breaking down what Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) really is, how it impacts eating behaviors, and why reframing our approa
FBT: Helpful or Harmful for Autistic People with Eating Disorders?
Family-Based Therapy (FBT), often hailed as the "gold standard" for eating disorder treatment, claims to help families take control of recovery. Unfortunately, this approach can be harmful for autistic people. In this episode, Livia shares her lived experience and insights on why FBT can clash with the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals. From issues of autonomy to the oversimplifi
Q&A: Autistic Burnout and Energy Debt
Are you or someone you care for always in fight-or-flight mode? In today’s episode, I’m sharing how a foot injury forced me to stop, rest, and confront the fears I’d been avoiding for years – stillness, emptiness, and a relentless desperation to distract myself. I also answer a listener question about viewing autistic burnout through the lens of energy debt. We’ll explore why this paralle
How I Recovered from an Eating Disorder as an Autistic Person
Traditional eating disorder treatment tends to overlook the unique needs of autistic individuals. This leads to invalidation, trauma, and harmful labels. In today's episode, I share my personal story of growing up undiagnosed autistic, how this shaped my eating disorder, and the journey I took to find true freedom. Whether you or someone you care about is struggling with food, exerci
Anorexia and Autism: Could Interoception Be the Missing Piece?
Interoception, the sense that helps us recognize our internal bodily signals like hunger and thirst, is often impaired in individuals with autism and eating disorders. But could this "missing sense" be the key to understanding the overlap between autism and anorexia? In this episode, I explore how interoceptive challenges affect emotional regulation, self-perception, and body image, drawi
Trauma-Informed Care for Eating Disorders and Sensory Sensitivities w/ Jess
Eating disorders present unique challenges for people with sensory sensitivities, which is why traditional treatment can do more harm than good. In this episode, Livia and Jess share their lived experience of neurodivergence and eating disorders, delving into the importance of trauma-informed care for neurodiversity-affirming eating disorder re
Autism and Binge Eating Part 4: Why it's All or Nothing!
Welcome to part 4 of my series on autism and binge eating! In this final episode, we explore some of the key psychological and hormonal factors that contribute to binge eating in neurodivergent individuals. From black and white thinking to decision fatigue and hormonal changes, this episode covers the many reasons why autistic people may struggle with binge eating.
You'll learn:
A recap
Autism and Binge Eating Part 3: Procrastination, Transitions, and Autistic Inertia
Welcome to part 3 of my series on autism and binge eating! In this episode, we dive deeper into the relationship between procrastination, transitions, and binge eating. Autistic people often struggle with transitions and experience something called autistic inertia, both of which can play significant roles in overeating and binge eating behaviors.
You'll learn:
A recap of Part 1 and Part
Autism and Binge Eating Part 2: The Sensory Experience of Food
Welcome part 2 of my series on neurodivergence and binge eating! In this episode, we explore the sensory factors that contribute to why autistic and ADHD individuals may struggle with overeating or binge eating. We also discuss how this connects to the nervous system and how neurodivergent people experience sensory input in ways that impact eating behaviors.
You'll learn:
A basic overvie
Autism and Binge Eating Part 1: Interoception, Hunger, and Fullness
Autism and binge eating – is there a connection? While the relationship between autism and eating disorders is well-acknowledged, most of the conversation revolves around the restrictive side of the eating disorder spectrum, specifically anorexia and ARFID. Overeating and binge eating are much less discussed forms of disordered eating in the context of autism, ADHD, and other forms o
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